Sandra Sysojeva Sets Two Personal Bests at 2024 CDI 5* Salzburg

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2024 CDI Salzburg

Lithuanian born Polish Olympic team rider Sandra Sysojeva set two new personal best scores in the CDI 5* dressage competition at the Amadeus Horse Indoors in Salzburg, Austria, on 6 - 8 December 2024.

Poland's Number One

Sysojeva knows she has an exceptional horse in the Oldenburg mare Maxima Bella (by Millennium x Christ). She bought her off a video from a horse dealer who does quick sales because she was a difficult young horse. After competing her internationally at a few shows as a 5- and 6-year old, including the 2021 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, where she was 25th in the 5-YO consolation final, Sysojeva premiered the 8-year old mare at international Grand Prix level in February 2024 with the target firmly set on the Olympics.

A nationality change to Poland at the start of the year ensured Lithuania's individual Olympic slot for country mate Justina Vanagaite, while Sysojeva easily captured the number one spot in Poland. She anchored the Polish team in Paris to set new records for the central European country in which dressage is thriving.

Maxima Bella did not take a long break after Paris, returning to the arena the same month at the end of August at the CDI-W Wierzbna Bialy Las (POL) where she became the 2024 Polish Grand Prix champion, followed by the CDI-W Tallin (EST) where she secured her berth in the 2025 World Cup Finals in Basel (SUI) next April.

Two PB's in Salzburg

The 5* in Salzburg was just the cherry on top of an already fabulous year. In Salzburg a big prize pot was to be won and Sysojeva won the Grand Prix and freestyle banking a 30,000 euro Christmas present.

"She is my once in a lifetime horse," said Sysojeva in Salzburg "She is like a child who can go straight to university after school. I am very happy with our ride and am pleased with how she performed in the competition.”

In the Grand Prix judges Henning Lehrmann, Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel, Thomas Lang, Gabriela Valeriánová, Peter Storr rewarded the pair with a personal best of 74.913%. The black mare presented herself with her usual pizzazz : a brilliant, electric off the ground passage, flawless transitions in and out of piaffe, and an overall very sympathetic soft and bouncy picture. The problem point in the Grand Prix were the two tempi changes and extended canter which brought the score down. The extended trots are a lot of flash in front and not that much overstep from behind. For the end halt, in which she was not immobile, the judges were generous with their 6 and 7s.

Sysojeva won the class and edged out Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen who was in Salzburg for redemption after having to retire in Stockholm when the 12-year old Marshall Bell (by Don Romantic x Michellino) threw the tongue over the bit. In Salzburg they were back in unison and posted 74.348% for second place, with Swede Patrik Kittel and his 12-year old Touchdown (by Quarterback x Sack) in third place on 73.435%.

Sandra had the crowds on their feet in the freestyle on Sunday, winning the Kur with a personal best of 84.410%. She left 2024 World Cup winners Patrik Kittel and Touchdown farther behind them (81.625%). The curb rein was on again and not in a loop like he rode Forever Young in Stockholm, which emanated a very friendly looking silhouette on the mare. Bachmann and Marshall Bell were now third with 81.050%.

To Piaffe or Not to Piaffe?

It became clear that the judges are still very divided about Maxima's piaffe. She got 10s for it, but some judges kept the mark at a 7.0 or 8.0. It really demands a discussion.

For purists of classical dressage one can honestly say that Maxima does not do a piaffe in which one expects the horse to sit with lowered haunches. (The piaffe is considered ultimate collection and the preparation for a levade). Instead Maxima eagerly and willingly passages on the spot, which of course makes transitions much easier as the technical difficulty of the lowered haunches is not achieved. Rhythm dominates over collection.. So is it a 10 or a 7? It will be interesting to see which consensus these distinguished judges will reach.

The FEI's definition of a piaffe

Piaffe is a highly collected, elevated, rhythmical diagonal movement giving the impression of remaining in place. The Horse’s back and top line are supple and elastic. The hindquarters are lowered; the haunches with active hocks are well engaged, giving great freedom, lightness and mobility to the shoulders and forehand. Each diagonal pair of legs is raised and returned to the ground alternately, with spring and regularity.
In principle, the height of the toe of the raised forefoot should be level with the middle of the cannon bone of the other supporting foreleg. The toe of the raised hind foot should reach just above the fetlock joint of the other supporting hind leg.

The FEI's definition of a passage

Passage is a measured, very collected, elevated, regular and cadenced trot. It is characterised by a pronounced engagement of the hindquarters, a more accentuated flexion of haunches, knees and hocks, and the graceful elasticity of the movement. Each diagonal pair of legs is raised and returned to the ground alternately, with cadence and a prolonged moment of suspension.
In principle, the height of the toe of the raised forefoot should be level with the middle of the cannon bone of the other supporting foreleg. The toe of the raised hind foot should be slightly above the fetlock joint of the other supporting hind leg

What is most interesting is that Maxima Bella is a horse that triggers a very emotional reaction with spectators, some screaming she is underscored, others believing she is overscored (or rightly scored).

Commute to Success

Sysojeva and Maxima Bella are the shooting stars of Paris with a 15th place in the Kur to Music Finals, presenting an image of ease and willingness that was savoured by the crowds. They only confirmed this status in Salzburg with scores that continue to climb and hearts that continue to be conquered.

No questions marks seem to be put behind the fact that this 8-year old mare has competed in 11 CDI's (22 Grand Prix level tests) in less than 10 months time. At the age of 6 (in 2022) she was already boasting full skill in the piaffe and passage

She has been trailered from Lithuania to Poland, to Germany, back to Estonia, to Latvia, back to Germany and on to Paris. After the Olympics she returned to Poland, then went to CDI-W Tallin in Estonia (4 - 5 October), performed in an exhibition show at the Polish equestrian event Cavaliada in Poznan two weeks ago to journey to Austria, where she sweopt the board in a masterful way in Salzburg.

The long distances do not seem to be taking their toll on this bright young mare... so far. However in a world where high standards for animal welfare are putting pressure on the viability of equestrian sport, the long travel hours for competition horses are also undergoing scrutiny.

"In the beginning of the season we told ourselves that we would dedicate this year for the Olympics – from February till August we devoted everything - our lives and time to get there and do our best. This year my main concern was how to keep her fit in the transport. We did a lot of travelling and I mostly drove at nights to avoid traffic and hot weather and we managed very well," Sandra explained in an interview with Polish journalist Agata Grosicka. 'Then we thought that after Olympics things would get calmer. But it’s even more busy. I also got and invitation for Top Ten in Stockholm but decided it was too much for the horse. After Salzburg we’ll have Christmas break and February next year we will start again."

Excitement for 2025

Event though the Olympic year 2024 is coming to a close and several top horses have been retired, including Olympic champion Dalera, there is no reason for disappointment with plenty of exciting young Grand Prix horses storming to front.

Zonik Plus: the other black horse that's drawing attention

Maxima Bella and Zonik Plus are probably to two most thrilling stars to watch and will make 2025 an exciting dressage year. Hopefully more developing GP horses will bud out and flower next year.

Sandra has already firmly drafted her plan for next year. "We’re planning to expand our travelling a bit because Maxima Bella has to get used to flights if we’re thinking about the next Olympics in LA," she said. "Next season we’ll hopefully start off in Doha (QAT) if we get an invitation and afterwards CDI Lier, then World Cup Finals, followed by maybe Hagen, Aachen. We’ll try to compete more in the Western Europe region."